Granted Patent B2

US 12,342,268 · App. 17/756,796 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Inventors: Daniel Chak (Mountain View, CA); Varun Anand (Mountain View, CA); Alex Stillwell (Mountain View, CA); Shishir Agrawal (Mountain View, CA); Qingxi Li (Mountain View, CA)

Assignee: GOOGLE LLC

H04W48/18G06F3/0481H04W24/10H04W76/30H04W88/06

Abstract

Claims (70)

1. A method comprising:

for a mobile device connected to one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with a first network operator, each network simultaneously connected to the mobile device, executing, by data processing hardware of the mobile device, a connection aggregator establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between the mobile device and a remote server, and a graphical user interface for display on a screen in communication with the data processing hardware, the graphical user interface rendering:

a status graphic indicating the mobile device is currently connected to at least one carrier-mediated wireless network of the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

an interactive graphic configured to receive user input indications for selecting between disabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator and enabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator;

receiving, at the data processing hardware, a first user input indication indicating selection of the interactive graphic rendered in the graphical user interface for disabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

in response to receiving the first user input indication:

disconnecting, by the data processing hardware, the mobile device from each of the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator;

connecting, by the data processing hardware, the mobile device to one or more user-mediated wireless networks; and

updating, by the data processing hardware, the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is not currently connected to any carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator and is instead connected to the one or more user-mediated wireless networks,

wherein, the connections between the mobile device and the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks are established within the VPN, the connections between the mobile device and the one or more user-mediated wireless networks are established within the VPN, and the connection aggregator is configured to prompt a user of the mobile device to provide consent to include the one or more user-mediated wireless networks within the VPN prior to the mobile device being connected to the one or more user-mediated wireless networks.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the mobile device is simultaneously connected to at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator:

identifying, by the data processing hardware, one of the at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks as a priority carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the first network operator,

wherein the status graphic rendered in the graphical user interface indicates the mobile device is currently connected to the priority carrier-mediated wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the mobile device is simultaneously connected to at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator:

for each carrier-mediated wireless network of the at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks the mobile device is simultaneously connected to, determining, by the data processing hardware, a connection quality of the connection between the mobile device and the corresponding carrier-mediated wireless network; and

identifying, by the data processing hardware, which carrier-mediated wireless network of the at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks the mobile device is simultaneously connected to is associated with a highest connection quality,

wherein the status graphic rendered in the graphical user interface indicates the connection between the mobile device and the identified carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the highest connection quality.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the status graphic rendered in the graphical user interface further indicates a value of the connection quality of the connection between the mobile device and the identified carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the highest connection quality.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, prior to receiving the first user input indication, the mobile device is simultaneously connected to at least a first carrier-mediated wireless network and a second carrier-mediated wireless network, the first carrier-mediated wireless network comprising a carrier-mediated cellular network associated with the first network operator and the second carrier-mediated wireless network comprising a carrier-mediated Wireless Fidelity network associated with the first network operator.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving the first user input indication, connecting, by the data processing hardware, the mobile device to one or more wireless networks associated with a second network operator different than the first network operator.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

disconnecting the mobile device from each of the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator comprises disconnecting the mobile device from at least one Wireless Fidelity network among the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

connecting the mobile device to the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator comprises connecting the mobile device to at least one Wi-Fi network among the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator comprise carrier-mediated wireless networks or user-mediated wireless networks.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein, when the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator comprise user-mediated wireless networks, updating the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is not currently connected to any carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator in response to receiving the first user input indication further comprises updating the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is now currently connected to the one or more user-mediated wireless network associated with the second network operator.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving the first user input indication, maintaining, by the data processing hardware, any existing connections between the mobile device and wireless networks associated with network operators other than the first network operator.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after receiving the first user input indication:

receiving, at the data processing hardware, a second user input indication indicating selection of the interactive graphic rendered in the graphical user interface for enabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

in response to receiving the second user input indication:

connecting, by the data processing hardware, the mobile device to one or more available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

re-updating, by the data processing hardware, the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is currently connected to at least one carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the first network operator.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the graphical user interface for display on the screen further causes the graphical user interface to render a second status graphic indicating the mobile device is currently connected to at least one wireless network that is not associated with the first network operator.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, by the data processing hardware, a second graphical indication indicating a connection quality of at least one wireless connection associated with a different operator.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator are disabled in response to receiving the first user input indication, a radio of the mobile device associated with at least one of the carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator remains enabled.

15. A system comprising:

data processing hardware of a mobile device; and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:

for a mobile device connected to one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with a first network operator, each network simultaneously connected to the mobile device, executing a connection aggregator establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between the mobile device and a remote server, and a graphical user interface for display on a screen in communication with the data processing hardware, the graphical user interface rendering:

a status graphic indicating the mobile device is currently connected to at least one carrier-mediated wireless network of the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

an interactive graphic configured to receive user input indications for selecting between disabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator and enabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator;

receiving a first user input indication indicating selection of the interactive graphic rendered in the graphical user interface for disabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

in response to receiving the first user input indication:

disconnecting the mobile device from each of the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator;

connecting the mobile device to one or more user-mediated wireless networks; and

updating the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is not currently connected to any carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator and is instead connected to the one or more user-mediated wireless networks,

wherein, the connections between the mobile device and the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks are established within the VPN, the connections between the mobile device and the one or more user-mediated wireless networks are established within the VPN, and the connection aggregator is configured to prompt a user of the mobile device to provide consent to include the one or more user-mediated wireless networks within the VPN prior to the mobile device being connected to the one or more user-mediated wireless networks.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising, when the mobile device is simultaneously connected to at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator:

identifying one of the at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks as a priority carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the first network operator,

wherein the status graphic rendered in the graphical user interface indicates the mobile device is currently connected to the priority carrier-mediated wireless network.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising, when the mobile device is simultaneously connected to at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator:

for each carrier-mediated wireless network of the at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks the mobile device is simultaneously connected to, determining a connection quality of the connection between the mobile device and the corresponding carrier-mediated wireless network; and

identifying which carrier-mediated wireless network of the at least two carrier-mediated wireless networks the mobile device is simultaneously connected to is associated with a highest connection quality,

wherein the status graphic rendered in the graphical user interface indicates the connection between the mobile device and the identified carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the highest connection quality.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the status graphic rendered in the graphical user interface further indicates a value of the connection quality of the connection between the mobile device and the identified carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the highest connection quality.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein, prior to receiving the first user input indication, the mobile device is simultaneously connected to at least a first carrier-mediated wireless network and a second carrier-mediated wireless network, the first carrier-mediated wireless network comprising a carrier-mediated cellular network associated with the first network operator and the second carrier-mediated wireless network comprising a carrier-mediated Wireless Fidelity network associated with the first network operator.

20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising, in response to receiving the first user input indication, connecting the mobile device to one or more wireless networks associated with a second network operator different than the first network operator.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein:

disconnecting the mobile device from each of the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator comprises disconnecting the mobile device from at least one Wireless Fidelity network among the one or more carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

connecting the mobile device to the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator comprises connecting the mobile device to at least one Wi-Fi network among the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator comprise carrier-mediated wireless networks or user-mediated wireless networks.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein, when the one or more wireless networks associated with the second network operator comprise user-mediated wireless networks, updating the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is not currently connected to any carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator in response to receiving the first user input indication further comprises updating the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is now currently connected to the one or more user-mediated wireless network associated with the second network operator.

24. The system of claim 15 , further comprising, in response to receiving the first user input indication, maintaining any existing connections between the mobile device and wireless networks associated with network operators.

25. The system of claim 15 , further comprising, after receiving the first user input indication:

receiving a second user input indication indicating selection of the interactive graphic rendered in the graphical user interface for enabling connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

in response to receiving the second user input indication:

connecting the mobile device to one or more available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator; and

re-updating the status graphic to indicate that the mobile device is currently connected to at least one carrier-mediated wireless network associated with the first network operator.

26. The system of claim 15 , wherein executing the graphical user interface for display on the screen further causes the graphical user interface to render a second status graphic-P indicating the mobile device is currently connected to at least one wireless network that is not associated with the first network operator.

27. The system of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise displaying a second graphical indication indicating a connection quality of at least one wireless connection associated with a different operator.

28. The system of claim 15 , wherein, when connections between the mobile device and any available carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator are disabled in response to receiving the first user input indication, a radio of the mobile device associated with at least one of the carrier-mediated wireless networks associated with the first network operator remains enabled.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (27)